Air France-KLM has officially opened its new Africa headquarters in Nairobi today.
The new office will serve Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Djibouti, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana, with the addition of South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana as new markets.
This is a strategy to bolster its network and enhance services in the region.
Speaking at the event, Senior Vice President of Long-Haul at Air France-KLM Zoran Jelkic said, “It made sense to bundle the strength of the different countries by creating a regional office in Nairobi which has become a centre of excellence to align our Air France & KLM policies and processes for this region and support the local teams for their specific requirements. For our customers, the new office has the benefit of a streamlined organization in terms of product offering, customer service and airport experience”.
The new office is situated in Merchant Square on Riverside Drive and will serve East and Southern Africa, as well as Nigeria and Ghana. The office will be headed by Mr. Marius van der Ham, who will serve as the Group’s General Manager (GM)
“This move is a testament to the Group’s unwavering commitment to the region and its drive to deliver unparalleled services to its valued customers,” he said.
“Kenya has long been acknowledged as the primary business centre of East Africa, boasting a stable and dynamic business environment, excellent connectivity across the continent, and a wealth of talent to support our strategy,”he added.
The new office will provide customers with a wide range of services, including ticketing, sales, and customer support. Customers will also be able to access information on the group’s products and services, including the Flying Blue loyalty program and the group’s partnerships with other airlines.
Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen, who officiated the event, lauded the company for choosing Kenya as its headquarters on the African continent, assuring them full government support.
“The air transport sector contributes 1.6 billion dollars to Kenya’s GDP and another 1.6 billion from tourists arriving in the country translates to 5% of the country’s GDP,” Murkomen said.
In addition, it will enable Air France-KLM to better serve the growing demand for air travel in the region. The group currently operates flights to various destinations in East Africa, including Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
“Africa is a region with abundant resources, talent, and potential, and we are excited to be part of its growth story. Therefore, we see this new office as a crucial step towards firming our footprint in this region and regard it as a key priority within our network. For a start, we have expanded in East Africa by increasing our frequency, and secondly by opening Dar es Salaam for Air France in combination with Zanzibar. This is in addition to our already established network of KLM flights into Uganda and Rwanda.” Said, Marius van der Ham.
As part of its commitment to boosting the travel experience, Nairobi is connecting the region to the world via the Group’s two hubs in Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol hence affording customers greater choice and flexibility when it comes to their travel needs.
